“Our priority as the provincial government is to ensure that his majesty is given a decent funeral service. In this regard, the provincial government will provide this support with caution, given the fiscal limitations government faces.”
The official memorial service for the king will be held at the Abbotsford Christian Centre in East London, starting at 2pm.
A district memorial will be held at the home village of slain SACP leader Chris Hani at Kusabalele village near Cofimvaba on Friday, starting at 10am.
The Nelson Mandela Museum, in conjunction with the royal family, will have a memorial service at the museum in Mthatha, starting at noon.
In the Western Cape a service will be held in Cape Town on Saturday.
A memorial service for Gauteng was held at Johannesburg on Thursday night. Several other memorials are to be held across the country and in neighbouring countries. - DispatchLIVE
lulamilef@dispatch.coza
SA flag at half-mast to honour late AmaXhosa king
Image: LULAMILE FENI
To honour amaXhosa King Mpendulo Calvin Zwelonke Sigcawu, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast throughout SA from Monday until the burial date of the king on November 29.
“The president has honoured the late king by declaring a Special Official Funeral Category 1 for his majesty,” said presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko in a statement on Thursday.
The king’s funeral will feature military ceremonial elements in accordance with the Category 1 status of this occasion.
Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy on Friday when the king will be laid to rest.
Sigcawu, 51, ascended to the throne in 2006 and lead his people for 13 years until he passed away on November 14 at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha.
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“Sigcawu was also the first king in SA to be crowned in 2015 after the democratic recognition of traditional leadership, and was an outstanding leader who served his people with selfless dedication.”
Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyana welcomed the declaration of this funeral category by the president.
This category of funeral covers people with extraordinary credentials and is specifically designated by the president.
“As the provincial government we welcome the declaration of this funeral by the president. The role of our government in the preparations for this funeral service is to assist the family and the kingdom with the provision of logistical support for the funeral service and during the days of mourning leading up to the date of the funeral service of his majesty,” Mabuyana told DispatchLIVE.
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“Our priority as the provincial government is to ensure that his majesty is given a decent funeral service. In this regard, the provincial government will provide this support with caution, given the fiscal limitations government faces.”
The official memorial service for the king will be held at the Abbotsford Christian Centre in East London, starting at 2pm.
A district memorial will be held at the home village of slain SACP leader Chris Hani at Kusabalele village near Cofimvaba on Friday, starting at 10am.
The Nelson Mandela Museum, in conjunction with the royal family, will have a memorial service at the museum in Mthatha, starting at noon.
In the Western Cape a service will be held in Cape Town on Saturday.
A memorial service for Gauteng was held at Johannesburg on Thursday night. Several other memorials are to be held across the country and in neighbouring countries. - DispatchLIVE
lulamilef@dispatch.coza
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